Seam or defect detector for sheet material



Aug. 31, 1937. T. c. PERRY 2,091,522

SEAN! OR DEFECT DETECTOR FOR SHEET MATERIAL Y' Filed July 5o, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 A Forum mamaux www2.: En .mf

Aug. 31, 1937. T. c. PERRY SEAM OR DEFEGT DETECTOR FOR SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 50, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3.2. coun 3.5 um..

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Patented Aug. 31', 1937 UNITED STATES YParri-:lar oFFlcE Thomas C. Perry, deceased, late of Sand Springs,

Okla., by Thomas Edison Paioi'd, administrator, Sand Springs, Okla., assignor by decree of distribution to Marion B. Perry, widow Application July 30, 1936, Serial No. 93,529

4 Claims.

The present invention is a detector device, useful in connection with sheet material for detecting seams or defects in the sheet materials and controlling a stopping or an actuating mech- 5 anism, and/ox` for giving an alarm or indication of some sort of the operation of the detector.

While the above invention is susceptible of very general use, it is particularly adapted for use in connection with the measuring of sheet 10 material of predetermined lengths free of defects or seams. n

An object of the present invention is the provision of a detector of the above stated character which is very simple in operation; may be read- ]5 ily adjusted to meet varying needs; has few operating parts which may become worn or inoperative; is very sensitive to slight variations in thickness of the sheet material; and is durable and very cheap to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a detector of the above stated character, in connection with a measuring table over which a sheet material is drawn and severed in predetermined lengths, soy that when a seam or defect 25 has been detected, an indication will be given,

or the sheet feeding'mechanism stopped, inforder that when the position of the seam or defect has been located, the number of unit lengths of predetermined size best obtainable from the material between the edge and seam or defect can be determined from a scale on the table.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further resides in the sundry details of c onstruction of the detector and in the comggbination of the arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the invention as at present de- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the detecting device with parts in section so as to show the detail construction of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the detector shown in g5 Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a sheet measuring table or apparatus equipped with the detector; and

Figures 4 and 4a are enlarged fragmentary views of the table shown in Figure 3, Figure 4 50 being one-half of the table and Figure 4ay being the other half of the table, respectively, and showing the scale indications which may be employed.

'I'he detector device per se comprises an arm or anvil I0, preferably circular in cross-section,

55 over or around which a strip of sheet material may pass. Positioned adjacent the arm III and spaced slightly therefrom, is a socket member II in which is disposed a detector member I2, which bears against the surface of the anvil or arm I between which and the detector the sheet ma- 5 terial passes. 'I'his detector member I2 may be any element having a smooth surface, so as not to hinder or in any way injure the material passing between it and the arm I0, but it is preferred that it be a metallic ball. The socket member I I may comprise any suitable element having a bore Ila therein, the bore being of such dimensions that the detector member l2 has a sliding fit in the lower end thereof. from which the detector member normally partially projects into engagement with the arm I0. The socket member is supported in position by an arm I3, which, together with the arm I0, is fastened to or supported by a bracket I6, which may be secured in position as the necessity or the requirements of use may indicate. L

The detector member or ball I2 is normally held in contact with the arm I0 by a coil spring I5, disposed in said socket bore IIa and having one'end pressing against a follower I6, slidably disposed in the lower end of the socket and bear-f ing against the detector member I2, while its other end bears against an insulating washer or disc i1, secured on a ange bushing I8 threaded into the upper end of the socket il and enclosing the spring I5.

Superposed upon the insulating disc I'i is a. metallic plate I9 of electro-conductive material, which has a threaded central opening therein in which is threaded an adjustable contact screw 20, also of electro-conductive material. The contact screw 20 is of such length that it may be extended down in close proximity to the detector member I2. The follower I6 has an opening lli8L therein through which the lower extremity 2l)a 40 of the contact screw may extend to be engaged by the detector member i2, when the latter is moved inwardly into the socket lla. The contact member 2@ is preferably surrounded by an 2 dered fixed by a locking screw 22, threaded in a flange of the bushing I8 and bearing on the stationary part of the socket I I, or by any other suitable means. This adjustment of the bushing I8 exerts or relieves pressure on the spring I5 and, consequently, upon the detector I2.

-The parts I8, I3, and 20 may be enclosed, as

shown inthe drawings, by a housing 23, which rises from and is preferably integral with the arm I3. The housing 23 may be covered by a removable top closure 24, so as to permit access to the parts for the purpose of adjustment.

The device just described is designed to open and close an electric circuit a which may control any operating device, such as an electric motor, a switch, bell, lamp, or other indicator. This circuit is fed from any desirable source of supply b, and is controlled by a master switch c. A pilot light d may be shunted across the switch c for the purpose of indicating when the switch c is on or off. The detecting device of the present'invention is in series in the circuit a (to a motor control switch, or lamp, or bell or other indicator), as shown in Fig. l, and has one end of the circuit conductor connected with the plate I9 and the other with the housing 23. Thus it will be seen that the current in the circuit passes through the plate I9, contact member 20 and, when the detector member I2 is in contact therewith at 2U, through the follower I6 and detector member I2 to the housing 23, back to the conductor.

An adjustment of the contact screw 20 in the plate I9 varies the distance between the contact end 20 and detector member I2 so that the electric circuit may be opened and closed by varying degrees of thickness of the material passing between the arm I0 and the detector member I2. 'I'he sensitivity of this device is therefore, controlled by the two adjustments, namely, the pressure exerted upon the spring I5 and the position of the contact 20 with respect to the detector I2.

This double adjustment is desirable because in some uses, such as with fine fabrics, it may not be desirable to have a detector member exert much pressure upon the fabric, or conversely, while at the same time the character of the material or the thickness thereof may be such as to require further adjustment of the contact member 20, for the proper detecting operation of the device.

It has been previously stated the invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a measuring device for flexible sheet material. In Fig. 3 is shown a measuring table or support 30 over which sheet material may be drawn, preferably by hand, from a crib 3i. On the table 30 is a marking device 40 and a cutting device 4I, relatively adjustable along the-length of the table so that they may be adjusted with respect to each other to the lengths in which it is desired to measure and/or sever the sheet material. When a desired length of the sheet material has been cut by the device 4I, the marker 40 is caused to operate to mark the sheet material at the point where the sheet is to be next severed, for the desired length to be obtained. The marking mechanism 4II and the cutting mechanism 4I are set forth in detail in my copending application, SerialNumber 93,528, led July 30, 1936.

The sheet material or stock is fed into the crib 3I in an accumulation of loose folds by a feeding mechanism 32. This feeding mechanism disposed at one end of the table, draws the sheet material from a suitable supply or roll 33, positioned at the other end of the table, over one or more decks 34, 3l, 33, arranged underneath the table. Positioned preferably at the point where the sheet material enters the first deck 34 from the supply 33, is the detector'devioe D,

above described. In Fig. 2 is shown the positionwhich the detector device assumes in the combination shown in Fig. 3, with respect to the material being fed from the roll 33. This sheet material may be made up of a plurality of strips joined together at their adjacent ends forming a seam, as shown at 2r, or the sheet material may have been tom or otherwisedamaged, which may be marked by a. nag y, or other suitable indicator placed on the slu'face of the material, preferably at the marginal edge portion e. This flag'f/may be an adhesive plaster or strip of sufficient thickness to operate or depress the detector I2. As the material passes between the arm I0 and the detector I2, the thickness of the seam :c lor the ag y will move the detector I2 inwardly of the socket II to engage the contact 20* and close the circuit a to stop the feeding mechanism 32, through operation of the switch 32 (preferably a magnetic switch) in the circuit a (Figures 1 and 3).

Along the edge, or otherwise associated with the decks 34, 35, and 36, is ascale, 31. The position of the seam or flag with respect to the scale 31 will indicate to the operator the number of units of desirable lengths into which the sheet material can be best severed, between the free end of the sheet material and the seam or defect.

Assuming that the sheet material is being drawn over the decks 34, 35, and 36 by the feeding mechanism 32 and that there is no defect occurring in the sheet material from the cutter 4I back to the supply roll 33, when a defect is encountered by the detector d, the switch 32' will be operated stopping the motor of the mechanism 32 (or other signal or indication being given). The operator then becomes informed that a defect has entered the apparatus and is at least in the flrst scale division on the deck 34. Upon finding the defected portion on the deck, the operator may read from the scale, for instance, (if the defect is within the 1st division) that l1 sheets of 108 inches long or 12 sheets of 99 inches long can be obtained from the material extending from the point where the scale is read to the cutting station 4I, or other suitable indication mark on the measuring table.

Again starting the feeding mechanism 32- (through suitable means not shown) the sheet material will be further drawn overthe decks until another defect is encountered.

Assuming, further, that another defect is encountered before the first defect above mentioned has reached the cutting station (or been "torn out-as stated in the trade vernacular), the same operation, as above mentioned, takes place and the operator will know that there is another defect on the table. However, he proceeds "tearing out sheet lengths until the first defect has been reached at the cutting station 4I, then he will inspect the decks for the second defect, which has occurred, and through the aid of the ag y will determine its location on the decks. Upon locating this said second defect on the decks, he will then be able to read the scale opposite its location to ascertain the number of different lengthsof sheeting that can be obtained out of the sheeting from the end of it at the knife station 4| to the point on the scale Where the defect is located. The cutting tables, now in use, are constructed so that there will be 23 yards or 828 inches from the beginning of the scale on deck 34 to the end of the scale on deck 36 and there further being 10 yards or 360 inches from the end of the scale of the deck 36 around through the feeding mechanism to the cutting knife 4I, making 33 yards or 1188 inches from the beginning of the scale to the cutting station 4I. Of course, these dimensions are only given by way of example, and may be increased or decreased according to convenience or requirements. On the scale the letter w indicates waste and, wherever this letter is found preceded by a number, means that there will be that many inches Waste when sheeting of a certain length is attempted to be cut when the defect is in that division of the scale. For instance, at the end of the deck 36 occurs 3--108 overlying 36W which means that, if the defect is in that division of the scale, 3 sheets 108 inches long can be obtained with 36 inches waste. However, it will also be noted that in the same division 4 sheets 90 inches long can be obtained without any waste.

The detector is shown in Fig. 3 as placed at the end of the measuring apparatus receiving the sheet material, from the supply source; but the device may be located at any desired point along the deck ordecks 34, 35, and 36.

Also, it is to be understood that the detector device is not limited to use with the measuring device shown and described, but is susceptible of general application either along, or in combination with other devices, and therefore, it is not wished to be limited in the application and use thereof. By the term defect as may appear in the claims, it is meant seams, or other defects which will cause the detector member I2 to actuate an indicator.

What is claimed is:

1. In anapparatus for measuring sheet material, scaled surfaces along which said material is drawn, an operators cutting station on the table, means for detecting defects in said sheeting moving to said'scaled surfaces, means for indicating to the operator the detection of said defects whereby the position of the defected portions of the sheet material Within the apparatus may be ascertained with respect to said scale.

2. In an apparatus for measuring sheet material, a measuring table, an operators cutting station on the table, a deck beneath said table over which material to be measured passes, operable means at one end of the table for drawing the material to be measured over said deck, defect detecting means in the path of said material passing along said deck, an operable connection between said detector means and said sheet drawing means for rendering the latter inoperative when a defect is detected, and a scale on said deck with which said defect may cooperate in indicating the number of unit lengths obtainable from the sheet material between the cutting station and said defect.

3. In a measuring and cutting table for sheet material, an operators cutting station on the table, means for drawing the sheet material from a source of supply, a seam or defect detector positioned along the length of the drawn sheet, and means cooperating with the detected defects for indicating the number of lengths of sheeting of determined lengths obtainable from the drawn sheeting between a defect and the cutting station. I

4. In a measuring and cutting table for sheet material, a source of supply of sheet material to be drawn along the table, a cutting station on the table, a seam or defect detector positioned between the source of supply and said'cutting station, and means for drawing the sheet material from the source of supply toward the cutting station, and means between the defect detector and cutting station cooperating with the seam or defect in the sheet for indicating the defect detector for indicating the detection of the seam or defect.

THOMAS EDISON PAFFORD, Administrator of the Estate of Thomas C. Perry,

Deceased. 

